Operating circuit and switch arrangement for car-motors.



J. S. McWHIRTER. OPERATING-CIRCUIT 'AND SWITCH ARRANGEMENT F OR CAR MOTORS. APPLICATION FILED OCT- 9. 191a.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

i] MWJQQW ATTORNEY Q v UNITED STATES BALDENT orricn.

JOHN S. MOWHIRTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB T PREPAYMIE INT CAR SALES COMPANY OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

Application flied October 9, 1913. Serial No. 794,221.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN S. MGWHIRTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Operating Circuit and Switch Arrangements for Car-Motors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to operating circuits and switch arrangement for car m0- tors.

The object of the invention is to provide a circuit arrangement and switch mechanism for use in connection with car propelling motors wherein the motor controller jmust be in its first position before current is supplied to the motor.

A further object is to provide a circuit and switch arrangement wherein when and only when the controller is in its first position a circuit is completed through devices for closing the main operating circuit.

A further object is to provide a circuit and switch arrangement in which the motor controller must be returned to its initial or ofi position every time it is reversed, or in case, for any reason, there is interruption of the operating current.

A further. object is to provide means whereby the controller must remain in its fir-st position for an appreciable time before it is possible for it to accomplish its functions when moved toward full on position from said first position.

A further object is to provide a Circuit and switch system of the nature referred to wherein the working circuit is broken when any door of the car is open.

Other objects of the invention will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

This invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a view in diagram showing a circuit and switch arrangement embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view showing a form of controller trip switch or operatingcircuit interrupter adapted for use in connection with my invention. Figs. 3 and l .are detail views showing another form oftrip switch adapted'for use in connection with my invention.

structure, operation and circult connections of which, except as hereinafter pointed out, requlre no special description. It is sufficient for present purposes to say that, as

usual, a controller and reversing switch is located at each end of the car, although this is not essential. The controller is provided with the usual contacts and fingers for the running on and off positions of the control handle and which positions aifect the usual variations in the motor connections and couplings. The usual blow out coils and other accessories may also be employed if desired. In addition to the usual circuit connections made by the controller when in its first running position, the controller, when in said first position, and only when in said position, closes circuit between an auxiliary contact or finger 5, and the controller contact strips 6, 7, which, as is usual, cooperate with the contacts or fingers 8, 9, said contacts or strips 6, 7 being electrically connected together, thereby completing and maintaining closed the circuit between contact fingers 8, 9, as long as the controller is in on position and whatever on position, whether first, second, third, and so on, it may occupy. But after passing beyond its first position, whether toward on or toward off, the circuit to the auxiliary contact finger 5 is broken. The contact finger 8 is in electrical connection with ground or return 10 through wire 11. The circuit of auxiliary contact 5, includes the .coil 12, of an electrical device, such asa solenoid, for closing the main working circuit; also a controller trip switch, indicated generally at 13, Fig. 1, and if desired, door controlled switches 14, an overload switch 15, and the trolley or other collector 16. Now assuming that the overload, the door and the trip, or other switches employed in said circuit are all closed, and the controller is in its first running position, then a circuit is completed from trolley 16, through conductor 17, switches 13, 14, 15, coil 12 and conductor 18. to auxiliary contact 5, to strip '6, contact 8. and wire 11 to ground. The completion of this circuit causes coil 12 to become energized thereby moving switch member 19 into position to close a circuit to contact 20. This closes i the working circuit from trolley 16, through wire 21, coil 22 of the overload relay, wire 23,. switch member 19, contact 20, and. wlre 24, on through the controller, motors and to ground or return, in the usual way.

The act of closing the working circuit through switch members 19, 20, also closes a hold up interlock switch 25, which is.

remains closed after the working circuit contacts 19,20, are closed even though the controller is moved to other on or running positions where the connection with auxiliar contact 5 is broken. But after the wor g circuit is broken in any manner it cannot be closed again until the controller is in its first position so as to complete the operating circuit through the auxiliary contact 5, and, moreover, not only must this circuit through contact 5, be closed but it must remain closed an appreciable interval of time to permit the coil 12 to accomplish its work of closing the switches 19, 20, and the switch 25. When this work is accomplished then the controller ma be operated toward its complete on position as may be desired or as exlgency may require. This is a most desirable feature of my invention as it causes the motorman to lose his control of current supply to the motor in case he passes too quickly over first position of the controller. In other words, there must be a dwell with controller on -first position, long enough for the working circuit to be closed by devices dependent on current flowing through the circuit of the auxiliary controller contact beforethe controller is moved farther toward on position. This prevents the motorman from unduly straining his motors or causing unnecessary jerks by throwin too rapidly this controller to second, third or subsequent on positions. Of course the operating circuit which includes the auxiliary controller contact 5, can not be closed if any door switch 14 or controller trip switch 13 is open. This prevents a car from being started as long as a door remains open, and hence eliminates the danger of accidents to passengers while boarding or alighting from the car due to the car starting prematurely.

I have referred to the controller trip switch 13, as being in the main switch operating circuit. It is a customary rule of street car companies to require motormen to turn their controllers to complete oif position whenever it is necessary or desired to turn it toward off position. Sometimes this rule is not observed by negligent motormen. It is the special function of the controller trip switch 13 to compel the motorman to return his controller to first position whenever he reverses it to any extent. To this end the trip switch is arranged to open' the operating circuit which contains the coil 12, whenever the controller is moved toward off position whatever may be the position of the controller, when the movement thereof toward off position is inaugurated, and to Whatever extent maybe such movement toward off position. One form of controller trip switch well adapted for'use in carrying out the objects and pur-- poses of my invention is shown in Fig. 2 wherein the switch 13 is controlled by a member 30 carried b a pivoted arm 31, which is normally be d by a spring 32, in position to close the switch 13. The arm 31, carries a pawl 33, which engages a ratchet disk 34 on the controller shaft, whereby if the controller is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow, a tooth of the ratchet disk engages the pawl 33, and rocks it thereby rocking arm 31, and hence opening the switch 13. The instant this switch is opened the coil 12, becomes dee'nergized and consequently the main working circuit switch 19,

'20, is opened. This necessitates returning .the controller to complete off position and then back into first position toward on position, before the circuit of coil 12 is again completed.

It is obvious that other forms of trip switches may be employed with equally good results, the essential feature being that the rswitch 13 is opened whenever the controller is moved toward off position thereby compelling a movement of the controllerto complete off position. Thus, in Figs. 3 and 4:, I have shown a friction type of trip switch. In this form the contacts 35, 36, in the operating circuit 17 is bridged by a contact arm 37, which forms part of a strap 38 which is clamped frictionall around the controller cylinder 39. With this arrangement when the controller is moved toward on position the arm 37 is carried into bridging relation with respect to contacts 35, 36, and is maintained in that position as long as the controller moves on inthe same direction or remains in any on position to which it is moved. When, however, the controller is moved in the opposite direction the arm 37 will be withdrawn from contacts 35, 36 and brought up against a back stop 40 where it remains during the continue ward off position.

While I have shown the operating circuit as a series circuit in Fig. 1, for both ends of the car, it is obvious that it may be a parallel circuit in which case a slip movement of the controller tomust be standing in its first running position. It must remain in that position long enough for the main working circuit to be closed by current supply dependent upon.

.-tion it must be moved to complete oil position before it can become eifective to control'supply to the motor.

It will also be seen that the main working circuit is not broken at the controller but at the main switch 19, 20, and consequently the controller is not subject to injury due to arcs formed when the main circuit is opened.

Having now set forth the objects and nature of my invention and an arrangement embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In an operating circuit and switch arrangement for car motors, a working circuit, a controller therefor, a switch arranged in said circuit, an operating circuit to control said switch; means to complete said operating circuit only when the controller is moved to its first running position from off position and an auxiliary circuit for said switch and operated thereby for maintaining said operating circuit closed after the controller moves beyond its first running position.

2. In a circuit and switch arrangement for car motors, a working and an operating circuit, a controller and a switch in the working circuit, means in the operating circuit to control said switch, and means in the working circuit to open the o erating circuit when the controller is moved toward off position from any on or running position.

3. In a circuit and switch arrangement for car motors, a working and an operating circuit, a controller and a switch in the working circuit, means in the operating circuit to control said switch, means controlled by the controller to close said operating circuit only when the controller is moved to its first running position-from its off position, and an auxiliary circuit connection for the operating circuit arranged to be closed only when the switch in the working circuit is closed.

4. In a circuit and switch arrangement for car motors, a working circuit, a switch therefor, means to close said switch, a cir cuit for said means, a ground connection for the last mentioned circuit completed only when the motor controller is in its first running position, and an auxiliary ground connection for the circuit of the switch closing means arranged to be closed by said working circuit switch.

5'. The combination with a working circuit having a controller and a switch there. in, of means for controllin said switch, an operating circuit there or, means to close the operating circuit only when the controller is in its first running position, and a trip switch .to open the operating circuit, said trip switch arranged to be actuated by .a movement of the controller toward off position. I

6. A motor working circuit having a controller and a switch therein, an operating circuit having means therein to close the working circuit switch, means operated by the controller only when in its first running position to close the operating circuit, and means operated by the movement of the controller toward off position to open the operating circuit.

7. A motor working circuit having a controller and a switch therein, an operating circuit having means therein to close the working circuit switch, means operated by the controller only when in its first run ning position to close the operating circuit, means operated by the closing of the working circuit switch to maintain the operating circuit closed after the controller has passed beyond its first position, and means operated. by the movement of the controller toward its off position for opening said operating circuit.

8. A motor working circuit having a controller and a switch therein, an operating circuit, means therein to close the working circuit switch, door switches also in said operating circuit to open the same when any door is open, means operated by the controller only when in its first running position to close the operating circuit, means operated by the closing of the working circuit switch to maintain the operating circuit closed after the controller has passed beyond its first osition toward on position and means operated by the movement of the controller toward off position for opening the operating circuit.

In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set," my hand in the presence of the subscribing of Septemberwitnesses, on this 29th day A. 1)., 1e19,.

JOHN s. MoWHIRTER. 

